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Aboriginal and Church's Leaders' Tour Will Wrap Up in Winnipeg

"Remembering the Children" public event to be held in Winnipeg, Monday, March 10, 2008

Attention: Assignment Editor, City Editor, News Editor, Photo Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor
TORONTO, ONTARIO, MEDIA ADVISORY--(Marketwire - March 6, 2008) - This week the spiritual leaders of the Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches, along with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Assembly of First Nations, are participating in a multi-city tour to promote the work of the upcoming Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

The Remembering the Children tour was launched in Ottawa on Sunday, March 2 and will make stops over the next week in Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg. The Protestant church leaders who are travelling to Winnipeg are:

* The Rt. Rev. Dr. David Giuliano, Moderator, The United Church of Canada* The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate, the Anglican Church of Canada* The Rev. Dr. J.H. (Hans) Kouwenberg, Moderator, The Presbyterian Church in Canada* The Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, the Anglican Church of Canada

At various times throughout the tour, local Roman Catholic representatives, along with regional Aboriginal leaders, and representatives of both Inuit and Métis groups, will participate in major public events that are being planned in each city by local organizing committees.

In Winnipeg, the Most Rev. James Weisgerber, Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Most Rev. Émilius Goulet, Archbishop of Saint-Boniface will participate as Roman Catholic representatives.

Other guests who are expected to attend this free public event include: Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs; the Honourable Elijah Harper; Ted Quewezance, Executive Director of the National Residential School Survivors' Society; and Seetal Sunga, senior representative of the Office of the Interim Executive Director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Gaudry Brothers, a group of talented young fiddlers, will welcome guests to The Forks. The tone for the evening will be set by a traditional pipe carriers ceremony. The Very Rev. Dr. Stan McKay will offer prayers in English and Cree. Speakers and artists will elaborate on the themes for the evening: remembering the children of residential schools, reflecting on past failures, and the need for truth-telling, healing and reconciliation. Savannah Boyko and Rhonda Head will sing, and dancers from the Summer Bear Dance Troupe will perform.